Electric switch



J. M. NAUL.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I4I 1917.

1,333,330. Patented u y 5, 1921 Z Q 7'0 SPARK PLUG HISTR/Bl/TOR no lights,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES MYRVEN NAUL, OF PITTSFIELD,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0. AMERICAN BOSCH MAGNETO CORPORATION, OI NEW YORK,

N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J u ly 5, 1921.

Application filed. August 14, 1917. Serial No. 186,159.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES M. NAUL, a citizen of the United States, residin at Pittsfield, in the county of Berkshire, tate of Massachusetts, have invented certam new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and .use the same.

The present invention relates to electric switches in which locking mechanism controlling the operation thereof includes a removable member, such as a key, so that, as a practical matter, unauthorized change of the circuits is prevented. In the preferred form in which the mechanism may, if desired, be embodied in a single structure,

the switch is adapted to control a plurality of electric circuits and has a switch arm movable to a plurality of positions in contact with the switch studs to which those circuits are respectively connected, the locking mechanism being adapted to lock the switch at any of said positions. Whether or not the mechanism is embodied in a single switch structure, the locking mechanism comprises, in its preferred form, a lock plate movable with the switch arm, and a cam which may be moved by the removable member to one position in which the lock plate is freely movable to permit movement of the switch arm or to another position in .35 which the lock plate is held against movement to prevent change of the circuits. In this construction a handle is provided for moving the switch arm and the lock plate when released by the locking mechanism. Furthermore, the construction is such that in the osition in which the removable member may be removed from the switch, the switch arm is locked by the lockin mechanism, and in the position in w ich the switch'arm is freely movable, the removable member is retained in the switch.

Th'e'electric circuits may include the li hting circuits of an automobile or the Eke, as for example, the circuits of the headside lights, tail light, etc., the switch arm being connected ,to the source of current supply therefor. The electric circuits may also include the ignition circuit the switch;

of the engine. By arranging the switch so that, bes1des the several positions for the lighting circuits, there is a position in which the ignition system is rendered inoperative, the driver may-lock the switch against. unauthorized starting of the engine as well as against unauthorized change of the lights. In the construction specifically described hereinafter for this purpose, the switch has a stud connected to the ignition circuit, and a grounded member movable with the switch arm is arranged to contact therewith only in the zero position of the switch, to thereby render the ignition system inoperative at that time. I

In the accompanying drawing showing as an example, the preferred form of 'a single switch structure for controlling 'the lighting and ignition circuits on an automobile I Fig. 3 is a rear view of the front part of Fig. 4: is a the switch Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views showing the switch in the positions marked 0, 1, 2 and 3, respectively; and i Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram.

The switch has a cup-shaped casing 1 of metal with a flange 2 adapted to be screwed to a support. The base block 3 of insulating material is fastened to the casin by screws and forms therewith an inc osed front view of the rear part of chamber for the reception of theaoperating.

parts of the switch. The handle 4 carries a spindle 5 journaled centrally in the casing and riveted to the lock plate .6, these arts being arranged to turn between the limits determined by the terminal faces of the boss 7. Five 'slottedstuds of copper, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, are held rigidly inthe base block and are engaged by binding post screws, suchzas shown at '13, to which the circuits to be controlled by the switch are attached at the back. The central hollow stud 14 of copper has a connecting screw 15, and provides at its-inner end a journal on which the switch arm can turn. The end of the journal is forced back against the copper washer 16 after the switch arm is in place on the journal, and forms a good electrical connection between the parts. The switch arm is made up of two copper segments 17 spaced apart by the metal washer 18 and having opposite flanges of different angular extent. The ring 19 of insulating material is riveted to the switch arm and is provided with two holes 20 into which project the two pins 21 from the lock-plate 6. The slot in the stud 10 is higher than those in the other studs and the two segments 17 are spaced apart axially to such an extent that the stud 10 is not engaged thereby, whereas the other studs 8, 9, 11 and 12 are engaged thereby when the switch arm is moved upon turning the handle 4. A bent copper strip 22 is fastened to the lock plate 6 and is arranged to engage the top of the stud 10 which is longer than the other studs, but to pass over the other studs without engaging them. This strip is grounded on the lock plate, and thereby grounds the stud 10 when in contact therewith.

The locking mechanism comprises a cam 23 held in place by the flat spring 24, and a key 25 which can be inserted in place and withdrawn therefrom only in that position wherein the peripheral part 26 of the cam sets in a peripheral recess in the lock plate 6. In this position, the lock plate cannot be turned from its set position, irrespective of what that position may be. but when the peripheral part 26 is turned about 180 degrees, in which position the key cannot be removed from the switch, the lock plate may be turned without interference by the cam.

The flat spring 24 has a V-shaped portion 27 adapted to spring into the V-shaped groove 28 of the cam, when the cam is in either of its two positions.

As will be seen from Fig. 9, the central stud 14 is electrically connected to one terminal of the battery 29, whereas the studs 9, 11 and 12 are connected to the dash and tail lights, the side lights and the headlights, respectively. The stud 8 is connected to the circuit breaker for the electric generator which supplies current to the battery and lamps when the engine is running above a predetermined speed. The stud 10 is con nected to the insulated element of the mechanical interrupter 30 of the magneto generator 31. In the 0 or off position of the switch, as shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the switch arm is disengaged from all the studs. and the grounded strip 22 is in contact with the stud 10, thereby disconnecting all of the lights and rendering the ignition system inoperative by grounding the insulated terminal of the primary winding of the magneto. In position 1, as shown in Fig. 6. the switch arm contacts with the stud 8, thereby connecting the circuit breaker of the electric generator to the battery. In position 2, as shown in Fig. 7, the switch arm contacts with the studs 8, 9 and 11, thereby connecting the source of current to the dash and tail lights, and also to the side lights. In position 3, as shown in Fig. 8, the switch arm contacts with studs 8, 9 and 12, thereby connecting the source of current to the dash and tail lights, and also to the headlights. In positions 1, 2 and 8, the strip 22 is disengaged from the stud l0, and also from the other studs. Thus the ignition system is rendered operative at the switch at all positions except the 0 position. The spring pressed ball 32 snaps into a recess of the lock plate 6 at each one of its four positions,

to lightly hold the switch in that position.

It will be understood from the foregoing, that the switch may be locked in any of its positions 0, 1, 2 or 3. so that upon removing the key, unauthorized change of the circuits is, as a practical matter, prevented. Furthermore, when the switch is unlocked "for operation, the driver may at any time interrupt the ignition for the engine by moving the switch to its 0 position. By looking the switch in this position, unauthorized starting of the engine is prevented.

Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a single switch structure for controlling the lighting and ignition circuits on an automobile or the like, a plurality of switch studs connected to the lighting circuits, another switch stud connected to the ignition circuit, a switch arm having one posltion in which said stud is engaged thereby to render the ignition circuit inoperative and in which the switch arm is disengaged from the studs connected to the lighting circuits, and having other positions in which said stud is disengaged thereby to render the ignition circuit operative and in which the switch armengages the studs connected to the lighting circuits, and locking mechanism, including a removable member. for locking said switch arm in any of said'positions.

2. In a single switch structure for controlling the lighting and ignition circuits on an automobile or the like. a plurality of switch studs connected to the lighting circuits, another switch stud connected to the ignition circuit, a switch arm having one position in which the stud connected to' the ignition circuit is grounded and the switch arm is disengaged from the studs connected to the lighting circuits, and having other positions in which the stud for the ignition circuit is disconnected from and the switch arm engages the studs connected to the lighting circuits, and locking mechanism. including a removable member, for locking said switch arm in any of said positions.

3. In a single switch structure "for controlling the lighting and ignition circuits on an automobile or the like, a plurality of switch studs connected to the lighting circuits, a switch arm having a position in which said studs are disengaged and having other positions in which said studs are engaged, a switch stud connected to the ignition circuit, a grounded member movable with the switch arm and engageable with the stud connected to the ignition circuit when the switch arm is in the said position in which it is disengaged from the studs 0on nected to the lighting circuits, and locking mechanism, including a removable member, for locking said switch arm in any of said positions.

4. 'In a single switch structure for controlling the lighting and ignition circuits on an automobile or the like; a plurality of switch studs connected to the lighting circuits; another switch stud connected to the ignition circuit; a switch arm having one position in which the ignition stud is engaged and the lighting studs disengaged thereby to render the ignition and lighting circuits inoperative, and having another position in which the ignition and lighting studs are disengaged to render the ignition circuit operative and the lighting circuits inoperative, and also having a third position in which the ignition stud is disengaged and one of the lighting studs is engaged to render the ignition and lighting circuits operative; and locking mechanism, including a removable member, for locking said switch arm in any of said positions.

5. In a single switch structure for controlling a plurality of electric circuits on an automobile or the like,a plurality of switch studs connected to said circuits, a switch arm movable to several positions in contact with said studs, and locking mechanism for lockin said switch arm in any of said positions, said locking mechanism including a removable member which can be removed from the switch only when said switch arm is locked in. any of said positions by said looking mechanism.

6. In a switch for controlling a plurality of electric circuits, a plurality of switch studs connected to said circuits, a switch arm movable to several positions in contact with said studs, a lock plate mechanically connected to said switch arm for v.movement therewith, and mechanism, including a removable member, for engaging said lock plate to lock it against movement.

7. In switch for controlling a plurality of electric circuits, a plurality of switch studs connected to said circuits, a switch arm movable to several positions in contact with said studs, a lock plate mechanically connected to said switch arm for movement therewith, a cam having one position in which it engages said lock plate to lock it against movement and having another position in which it is disengaged from said lock plate to permit free movement thereof, and a key for turning said cam from one to the other of its positions.

8. In a switch for controlling a plurality of electric circuits, a plurality of switch studs connected to said circuits, a switch arm movable to several positions in contact with said studs, and locking mechanism including a removable member, for locking said switch arm in any of said positions, the switch arm being locked by the locking mechanism when the removable member is in osition to be removed from the switch, an being unlocked by the locking mechanism when the removable member is in position to be retained by the switch.

9. In a switch for controlling a plurality of electric circuits, a plurality of switch studs connected to said circuits, aswitch arm movable to several positions in contact with said studs, and locking mechanism for locking said switch arm in any of said positions, said locking mechanism including a removable member which, upon being turned to the position in which it may be removed from the switch, locks said switch arm, and which, upon being turned to the position in which it is retained by the switch, unlocks said switch arm.

10. In a switch for controlling a plurality of electric circuits, a plurality of switchstuds connected to said circuits, a switch arm movable to several positions in contact with said studs, and locking mechanism, including a removable member, for locking said switch arm in any of said positions, said locking mechanism being operated while the removable member is being turned from the position in which it is retained by the switch to the position in which it may be removed therefrom.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JAMES MYRVEN NAUL. 

